María del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her longtime Madrid home triggered nationwide protests and intensified Spain’s housing crisis, died on Wednesday while in hospital.
asserted
eviction → trigger → hospital
Widely known as “Maricarmen”, Abascal had lived in the apartment for seven decades before she was evicted on September 23.
asserted
she → know → September
She was carried out on a stretcher after police cordoned off the street and removed protesters who had gathered to oppose the eviction.
asserted
who → carry → eviction
She was taken to hospital because of her fragile health.
asserted
She → take → health
Her death was confirmed by her lawyer Beatriz Duro and housing activists.
asserted
death → confirm → lawyer
Duro did not disclose the cause of death when confirming it to Cadena Ser radio.
asserted
Duro → disclose → radio
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offered his condolences on social media, saying, “All my love to Maricarmen’s family and loved ones.
asserted
Sánchez → offer → family
A hug as well to all of us who feel this loss as our own today.
asserted
who → feel → loss
Death sparks fresh protests
asserted
Death → spark → protests
News of Maricarmen’s death prompted renewed demonstrations, with protesters gathered near Spain’s Parliament chanting, “Maricarmen lives, the fight goes on!”
asserted
fight → prompt → Parliament
Around 1,000 protesters had also been camping in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol over the previous week, as anger over housing costs and evictions spread across the country.
asserted
anger → camp → country
Iciar López, a 32-year-old psychologist who attended the protest in Madrid, told news agency AP, “A great deal of sorrow.
asserted
who → attend → sorrow
And above all, the thought that she is the cause, the head of this whole revolution that has happened, and that she can’t see it.
asserted
she → happen → it
It makes me very sad that she can’t see if anything comes of it ...
asserted
anything → make → it
That’s what angers me the most, honestly.”
asserted
what → ’ → me
Maricarmen’s lawyer said the case had drawn international attention and highlighted the impact evictions can have on vulnerable people.
“Maricarmen's case, which captured media attention and traveled around the world, leaves us the image of the shameful violence of these types of evictions and the impact they can have on people’s health,” Duro said.
asserted
Duro → say → health
The Madrid Tenants’ Union said an agreement allowing Maricarmen to return to her apartment had been reached, but too late for her to go home.
asserted
her → say → apartment
“Although a historic agreement was reached that would have allowed her to return home, this solution came too late,” the union said.
asserted
union → reach → ?
“It was an entirely avoidable situation following a harrowing ordeal.”
asserted
It → follow → ordeal
Her eviction became a national housing flashpoint
Maricarmen had spent almost her entire life in the apartment, first living there with her parents and brother.
asserted
Maricarmen → spend → parents
According to Spanish newspaper El País, she later worked as a secretary for the board of a pharmaceutical company.
uncertain
she → accord → company
She said both her parents died in the apartment.
asserted
parents → say → apartment
After retiring in 1998, she spent much of her time walking around the neighbourhood, running errands and looking after her belongings at home.
asserted
she → retire → home
Family photographs were among the few possessions she had taken with her to hospital.
asserted
she → take → hospital
The real estate company that evicted her had sought to rent the property at a much higher price.
asserted
that → evict → price
After sustained public pressure, it eventually agreed to let her return.
asserted
her → sustain → pressure
Her case became a rallying point for renters facing rising housing costs.
asserted
case → become → costs
Protesters across Spain have carried slogans including “Not even one more Maricarmen!” while demanding action from lawmakers.
asserted
Protesters → carry → lawmakers
Eugenio Melchor, 22, who attended Wednesday’s protest in Madrid, said: “Maricarmen only wanted to die in her home.
asserted
Maricarmen → attend → home
She wasn’t asking for anything else.
asserted
She → ask → anything
She was dying in her home and she almost did.
asserted
she → die → home
They have killed her.
asserted
They → kill → her
I mean, there’s no other word for it, and I hope those responsible for this pay and go to trial.”
asserted
those → mean → trial
Housing crisis deepens political pressure
asserted
crisis → deepen → pressure
Spain’s housing problems have been building for years, with renters increasingly protesting over rising costs and the limited supply of rental homes.
asserted
renters → build → homes
The average rent in Spain has almost doubled over the past decade, according to property website Idealista, with the price per square metre rising from 8.20 euros in 2016 to 15.10 euros this year.
uncertain
price → double → euros
Spain’s government said 26% of renters spend an average of 40% of their income on rent and utilities, compared with 18% across the European Union.
asserted
% → say → Union
Government-owned rental properties account for less than 2% of Spain’s available housing stock, compared with an EU average of 8%.
asserted
properties → own → %
The protests have also shaken Spanish politics.
asserted
protests → shake → politics
Sánchez called an early election after his government failed to secure parliamentary backing for emergency housing measures aimed at stopping evictions and curbing real estate speculation.
asserted
government → call → speculation
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
